Skoda Kodiaq Scout: a Kodiaq with off-road attitude

The new Skoda Kodiaq Scout SUV has been revealed as a Kodiaq with some off-road ability, built for those who want to do a bit more than the school run.

The idea of a Skoda Kodiaq Scout seems a bit odd. After all, isn’t ‘Scout’ Skoda-speak for cars with a bit of off-road chops? And isn’t the Kodiaq supposed to be an SUV already?

The truth is that, just like most SUVs, the Kodiaq is a real soft-roader, designed to make buyers feel ‘safe’ and tap in to the obsession they have with high-riding, soft-roading SUVs and Crossovers.

With that in mind, a Kodiaq Scout makes perfect sense, although don’t run away with the idea that a Kodiaq Scout is going to give Land Rover a run for it’s money. It’s not, but it’ll probably manage mild off-road with a lot more aplomb than its city sibling.

The Skoda Kodiaq Scout comes with silver-coloured ‘skid plates’ front and rear (although they look cosmetic rather than practical) and more silver colour details on the grille, window surrounds and sills.

A set of 19″ alloys unique to the Scout, some ‘Scout’ badges and a raised ride height finish off the look.

All wheel drive, sensibly, is standard, and there’s Off-Road Assist too which tweaks throttle responses, adjusts dampers and sets the diff lock to amber alert for better grip and traction. There’s also the obligatory Hill hold and Hill Descent.

Other goodies include Trailer Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring, Emergency Braking, Front Assist and birds-eye camera. Inside, the Swing Touchscreen comes as standard, there’s Alcantara for the seats and ambient lighting.

Due to be publicly revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month, you will be able to have the Kodiaq Scout with the 1.4 and 2.0 litre TSI petrol engines or the 2.0 litre TDI with 148 or 187 bhp.